KwaZulu-Natal small towns, which have been experiencing infrastructure decay and job losses for several years, are finally going to be revitalised following the launch of “a bold initiative designed to ensure that development and prosperity are shared across the province.”

The announcement was made by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli when he delivered his keynote address at the KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference in Durban yesterday.

Ntuli told the delegates from the public and private sectors that the establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Secondary Cities Network was motivated by a desire to broaden the geography of opportunity beyond Durban.

“As premier, I have established the KwaZulu-Natal Secondary Cities Network, a bold initiative designed to decentralise development and ensure that prosperity is not confined to one centre, but shared across our province,” said Ntuli. The premier revealed that small towns that have been identified as the province’s new growth nodes include Richards Bay, Newcastle, uMhlathuze, Ladysmith, Kokstad, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg, and uMkhanyakude.

The revitalisation of small towns project has received widespread support from economists and business leaders in KZN following years of infrastructure decay, job losses, the migration of influential firms such as ArcelorMittal in Newcastle, and service delivery failures by municipalities. Speaking about the revitalisation plan, Ntuli described the approach as “practical and visionary.”

“It seeks to ease the pressure of urban overconcentration in Durban while unlocking the untapped potential of regional economies. By strengthening our secondary cities, we are spreading opportunity, promoting regional competitiveness, and creating a more balanced, inclusive pattern of development.” He said the Secondary Cities Network will take into account that each of the identified towns has its own distinct competitive advantage.

“Newcastle is emerging as a centre of manufacturing excellence; Richards Bay is our logistics powerhouse and industrial gateway; the South Coast and Midlands remain our beating heart of tourism and agriculture; and uMkhanyakude holds promise for agro-processing, eco-tourism, and renewable energy development.

“Secondary cities are becoming magnets for infrastructure investment — in roads, housing, bulk water, digital connectivity, and logistics networks. These investments strengthen inter-district connectivity through key corridors such as the N2 and N3, linking our inland and coastal economies into one seamless, competitive system,” said Ntuli.

He added that it was interesting to observe that when infrastructure reaches these cities, it stimulates construction, real estate, and local service sectors, creating jobs and supporting Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) through infrastructure-linked opportunities.

“In doing so, we are not just expanding our economic map — we are re-drawing it to ensure that every part of KwaZulu-Natal contributes to, and benefits from, growth. This is the essence of our economic vision: a connected, competitive, and inclusive KwaZulu-Natal, where every city and district becomes a catalyst for investment, innovation, and shared prosperity,” said Ntuli.

Msunduzi Municipality Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla said the premier was on point regarding the importance of the network of secondary cities.

“We are the drivers of the economy of our province. I am talking about secondary cities; therefore, the cities’ network that the premier spoke about will be of great assistance in creating jobs and ensuring that the economy grows in a manner that benefits all people in our country.

“I also believe that it will assist in ensuring that the flooding of our people into urban areas is managed effectively. We will be able to meet the demand that is pushing for people to come to the cities. “People come to cities because they are looking for opportunities, and at times, the influx exceeds what we can accommodate. With this network, I believe we will be in a position to deal with that. At the end of the day, our goal is to grow the economy,” Thebolla said.

KZN MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure Martin Meyer spoke about the importance of cities being in good condition, saying bad buildings, especially in Pietermaritzburg, have to be attended to urgently.

“If an investor sees a bad building, instead of saying he is not going to invest his money here, he should inform us because we are addressing the issue of bad buildings in Pietermaritzburg.” He asked concerned citizens of KZN with ideas to approach the provincial government to advise on what can be done with those buildings.

Mayor of uMhlathuze Municipality Xolani Ngwezi welcomed the premier’s initiative, saying he has no doubt that it’s going to assist small towns across the province.

“It will indeed assist us as secondary cities, because we need to learn best practices from each other and share challenges as we are the next investment destinations. In uMhlathuze Municipality, we are already receiving investments, but we need the provincial government to assist us,” said Ngwezi.

THE MERCURY

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